It is used to test and determine manganese and as an oxidant, bleaching agent, photographic reducing agent and retardant, and battery depolarizer. It is used in the preparation of soluble starch. It is also used as an initiator for the emulsion polymerization of vinyl monomers such as vinyl acetate and acrylates. It is inexpensive and the resulting emulsions have good water resistance. It is also used as a curing agent for urea-formaldehyde resin, offering the fastest curing speed. It is also used as a co-oxidant in starch adhesives, reacting with the protein in the starch component to improve adhesion. The recommended dosage is 0.2% to 0.4% of the starch content. It is also used as a surface treatment agent for copper. It is used as a raw material for the manufacture of persulfate and hydrogen peroxide. It is also used as a corrosive agent in metal plate etching and in oil recovery in the petroleum industry. Food-grade versions are used as wheat conditioners and as a mildew inhibitor for brewer's yeast.